[Epoch Times October 30, 2021](Epoch Times reporter Zhang Ting comprehensive report) British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Boris Johnson) on Friday (October 29) called on Chinese President Xi Jinping to take more measures to reduce China Reliance on coal and advance the target date for achieving peak carbon dioxide emissions to better respond to climate change.
Reuters reported that China is the world‘s largest emitter of greenhouse gases and is critical to the success of the 26th United Nations Climate Conference (COP26). But many scientists and climate experts worry that China’s current climate plan is too weak. British Prime Minister Johnson is keen to persuade Beijing to achieve its climate goals sooner.
On Thursday, Beijing submitted the latest report on the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) program to address climate change to the United Nations, which formally increased its overall emission reduction commitments, but did not provide any new content before the COP26 that Johnson is about to host.
The submitted documents published on the website of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change show that China’s goal is to achieve the peak of carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
Referring to a conversation earlier on Friday, Johnson told reporters that he made a few points. “The first thing is about the time to reach the peak… They (the Chinese Communist Party) said it will be before 2030, so I urge a little bit, 2025 will be better than 2030, I did not say that he (Xi Jinping) promised this.”
“The other point is the potential to push away from coal.” Johnson said. He also added that he described the speed at which Britain moved away from coal.
Johnson is eager to make COP26 a success, but some critics doubt whether the British leader can win the cooperation of China and other major emitters.
In the 2015 Paris Agreement, the signatories promised to limit the increase in global temperature (compared to pre-industrial) below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The New York Times reported on October 29 that the CCP has recently relaxed coal mining, which has caused China’s new coal production to exceed that of Western Europe in one year. This has caused huge losses to the global efforts to deal with climate change.
Coal mining efforts have triggered frequent activities in China’s major coal provinces. The idle mine is restarting. The small yellow excavator used in the family workshop is clearing and widening the road beside the corn terraces.
According to the report, China’s increase in coal production capacity will have costly consequences. Coal burning is already the biggest cause of climate change caused by human activities. It will also increase China’s carbon emissions and toxic air pollution, endangering the lives of coal miners. Moreover, although it contributes to short-term economic growth, this may cost the Chinese economy in the long-term.
Editor in charge: Lin Yan#
.